The UK government has opted to deviate from the EU's guidelines for monitoring water quality in England.

As revealed in an exclusive report by The Guardian this week, the UK, once part of the European Union, will no longer adhere to the EU's Water Framework Directive (WFD) but will instead employ its own undisclosed methodology for evaluating the condition of England's water bodies. Previously, under the WFD, a national survey focusing on chemicals and ecology was conducted annually. However, starting in 2016, the government decided to reduce the frequency of water quality testing under the WFD from every year to every three years.

The most recent comprehensive assessment of England's rivers was conducted in 2019, revealing that only 14 percent of them were in good ecological health, while none met the standards for good chemical health.

Government officials conveyed this change to stakeholders during a meeting, according to the report. A source from a non-governmental organization that attended the meeting stated, "When asked about the impact on assessments related to the government's environmental improvement plan, officials stated that this data would no longer be used for that purpose, and that the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) was considering using the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) process to evaluate performance. I question the extent of development of the NCEA process and whether it is suitable."

Environmental advocates have raised concerns that deviating from EU standards could lead to increased pollution of England's rivers and water bodies if the new assessment methods are less stringent. They also fear that this shift could make it more challenging to compare the state of England's water bodies with those in the EU, potentially leaving the public in the dark about water pollution and sewage.

Stuart Singleton-White of the Angling Trust emphasized that the Water Framework Directive has been fundamental in understanding the state of England's rivers, lakes, and groundwater. He stated, "While it does not provide a comprehensive picture, it does offer a valuable starting point. Past assessments have indicated that conditions are deteriorating, not improving. To skip a full assessment in 2022 and wait until 2025...only creates confusion and leaves the public without a clear understanding of whether our rivers are improving or deteriorating."

Following The Guardian's report, many individuals expressed their disappointment. Tim Farron, a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament and former party leader, criticized the government for not taking stronger measures against sewage dumping and for reducing assessments that provide vital information about the extent of environmental damage.

The European Movement UK, a group that highlights the negative consequences of Brexit, echoed these concerns, stating, "The UK's decision to diverge from EU water quality standards is yet another setback in a series of post-Brexit challenges. With growing fears of increased pollution and obscured data, it is clear that Brexit continues to have detrimental effects on our environment." Photo by Davide Restivo from Aarau, Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.